UNTAMED Albania and Montenegro MOTORCYCLE EXPEDITION

Today, most expedition members will arrive in Dubrovnik. We’ll be spending the afternoon in a garage, getting to know each other, practicing and preping our bikes. Those who decide to rent will be able to adjust risers, footpegs, suspensions etc. After discussing the expedition plan, it’s time for dinner. We have a rule: beer for the group is on whoever loses something from the bike on our way to the restaurant!

We go through fertile river valleys, along the canyon of Sutjeska River, surrounded by Maglić, Volujak, Sniježnica, Zelengora mountains and Perućica, the last European rainforest. This region was the scene of the most important battles against Nazis in World War II. After crossing to Montenegro, we follow Tara canyon – the deepest canyon of Europe and the second deepest canyon in the world! We are heading to Durmitor.

After a night in the mountains, we’ll grab a rich traditional breakfast. We’ll be staying in the mountains for a while, enjoying barely recognizable tracks through golden plains, difficult off-roads and clear lakes that offer refreshment. If you haven’t tried it the night before, don’t miss out on “cicvara” and “kačamak”.

The ride from Komovi takes us along canyon of the famous Tara river. Let’s say that Kučke mountains are pretty different from everything you’ve seen so far. Both for the technical terrain and the beauty, the Kučke mountains will slow us down a bit. We descend from the mountains and then, when we are near Skadar Lake, turn to the east and cross the border to Albania. The ride ends with climb to Theth, a well-known destination in ADV circles.

The simple beauty of Theth will enchant everyone. There’s a big chance that we’ll run into a bunch of motorcyclists here because we’re on the Trans Euro Trail. Those who want to stretch their legs can go on a wonderful one-day hiking tour to Prokletije (meaning: Cursed Mountains). Those who want to torture their bikes a bit more, have a perfect playground around them – rev and ride.

We’re riding through the rock strewn and yet quite gentle Albanian hills. This is the true middle of nowhere! The remains of Enver Hoxa’s dictatorship can be seen seen everywhere – concrete trenches are literally scattered all over the country, built to defend it from the phantom enemy. You will see some incredibly imaginative examples of transforming these former “military” objects into tourist attractions.

After a night spent at the Nature Park, next to the lake, it’s time for our morning routines – engine check, chain lubrication, packing and getting back on our bikes. Today you’ll be learning what life is like in continental Albania. Our destination is Elbasan – a surprisingly developed “urban” town. I’m sure you’ve been hoping for Western Food by now, so you’ll be delighted to hear you can have a pizza or T-bone!

As soon as we leave Elbasan, we’ll be riding on winding mountain roads through barely populated or even totally uninhabited areas. We’ll cross over or ride the famous TET several times! This means we’ll also meet TET bikers and, as usual, stop to share impressions and advice. But let’s not get all chatty, Pershkopi awaits.

You might be a bit tired due to the past three days. It’s a more casual ride but there are still miles to go. We’ll be riding along the Valbona River until we reach our most charming point, the village of Valbona beneath the magnificent Prokletije mountains.

Tired already? Most of us will probably be zen (and lazy) in this beautiful setting but those who can’t get enough will have a chance for a great enduro ride in a dry riverbed.

We’ll be catching a ferry and sail for about 35 kilometers on the artificial lake of Koman, built on the river Drim and then continue riding along Drim all the way to Skadar lake where we’re staying overnight. If we’re not too tired after today’s short ride, we can reward ourselves with a night out in Skadar.

A shorter ride than usual lets us go wild on Komovi and some shorter mountain climbs to the nearby hills. The sun sets in “Katun” – a shepherds hut turned into a family farm along with a restaurant and accommodation that sits high up in the mountains.

We’ll be looking for the barely recognizable traces in gently swishing grass. You’ll both hate me because of the Mrtvica canyon and love me for everything else. There will be opportunities to take a short rest and swim in one of the most beautiful Montenegrin mountain lakes.

To get away from the main roads, we’ll be going to the technical terrains of the outback. Are you ready to shake your kidneys up on some rocky slopes? At some point we’ll be getting back to the road we know from our first day of expedition. There’s still a short ride to Dubrovnik where the adventure finally ends.

Yes, we are in Dubrovnik but it’s not all over yet. Depending on the flight schedule, we might still get enough time to taste seafood, take a tour around the old city of Dubrovnik or simply go through our impressions over a glass of wine… no need to be sad, you know you’ll be back for more! 🙂 But until then, I wish you some amazing rides!